The champions seized upon Newcastle’s surprise victory over Chelsea in the day’s early game with a 1-0 victory over Everton to move to within three points of the Barclays Premier League summit.
As proved on so many occasions in the last three years, there is no team quite like City for taking advantage of a rival slip.
This latest, three-point-bite into the leaders’ advantage came courtesy of a 22nd minute penalty from Yaya Toure and a late wonder-save by Joe Hart to deny Romelu Lukaku.
A pair of exceptional performances from James Milner and Samir Nasri also played a huge part in the claiming of a fifth-successive win in all competitions.
That meant Chelsea’s lead, which stood at eight points, causing one bookmaker to pay out on bets on the title winners, has almost been wiped out in the space of a week.
After making it through the early season gauntlet, City can now look forward to the festive period with a rosy-cheeked optimism; the kind which looked a distant prospect at the start of last month.
Manuel Pellegrini showed plenty of respect to the visitors with his line-up, fielding the 4-2-3-1 used in the 4-1 win at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night.
With Stevan Jovetic nursing a minor knock, Nasri was handed chief architectural responsibilities in behind the league’s leading marksmen Aguero, while Milner and Jesus Navas took up the wide berths.
Eliaquim Mangala came in for Dedryck Boyata as one of two changes to the XI which started on Wearside.
Everton’s best form so far this campaign has been reserved for the Europa League, with the Toffees lying down in 11th place coming into this tea-time meeting at the Etihad.
Roberto Martinez had never masterminded a Premier League victory over City in ten attempts through his tenures at Swansea, Wigan and Everton, although the likeable Spaniard could take encouragement from the Merseysiders’ enviable historical record against this opposition.
Everton had only secured more wins against West Ham than the 17 they’d managed from games against City in the Premier League.
Would the champions be caught cold against a hard-working, talented side with something to prove or would they continue their blistering recent form to keep up the pressure at the top?
The evening got off to worst possible start, with Aguero appearing to jar his knee when stretching to press the ball two minutes into the game.
It looked bad from the moment the Argentine fell to the floor and the outlook grew no sunnier as Kun hobbled off the field in tears.
With Edin Dzeko only returning to the bench from an injury himself for this game, Manuel opted to bring 18-year old Jose Angel Pozo on for his second Premier League appearance.
A huge vote of confidence for the youngster but the blow of losing Aguero, and the lengthy stoppage that followed, sucked the life from the game as a spectacle for the opening 15 minutes.
City eventually grew into the match and were awarded a penalty after 22 minutes when Phil Jagielka took out Milner just inside the Everton area.
Stand-in skipper Toure stepped up confidently to stroke his side into the lead from 12 yards, making it seven conversions from seven spot-kicks for the Ivorian in the Premier League.
City finished the half strongly, with Nasri’s influence growing with each passing minute.
The Frenchman seemed to relish his role in behind Pozo, buzzing mischievously in between the lines and showing up in pockets of space across the pitch, making it almost impossible for Jagielka and Sylvain Distin to track him.
Navas had two shooting opportunities as the first-half minutes ticked by, with the better of the two being deflected onto the roof of Tim Howard’s goal.
That was as close as City came to doubling their tally in the first 45 but Pellegrini would have been satisfied with the solidity at the other end as the Toffees were reduced to only the odd pot shot.
In fact, Yaya’s penalty was the only shot on target either side mustered before the break, making it feel as though any second goal in this contest may have been pivotal.
Pozo was so unfortunate not to bag his first Premier League goal five minutes after the restart, when he fired low and hard towards the bottom corner from Milner’s cross but Tim Howard pulled off a fantastic save to deny him.
The Malaga-born teenager earned a standing ovation when he was replaced by Dzeko on 61 minutes.
Ross Barkley was brought on by the visitors to try and rescue a point for his side but it was Romelu Lukaku who went closest to providing the equaliser with a thumping volley in the closing minutes but Hart pulled off an astonishing fingertip save.
That closed out City’s second clean sheet in 18 encounters with Everton.
Questions over the extent of Sergio’s injury would surely dominate the post-match inquest but it should not be forgotten that the home side saw off last season’s fifth-placed team without Messrs Aguero, Kompany and Silva.
Kun concerns aside, spirits could be no higher ahead of that all-important flight to Rome.
With or without Sergio, the Italian job awaits...
